"We are the only country in history that ever deliberately changed its ethnic makeup, and history has few examples of 'diversity' creating a stable society." - Richard Lamm, former governor of Colorado

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Blacks and Latinos in Harbor Gateway continue to blame each other for violence

This 12-square-block, working-class area east of Torrance is the latest in the region attracting attention for the violence between Latino street gangs and blacks, which residents say has occurred in spasms over the last decade.

"I want to know why it took so long for people to realize what's going on here," said Sims.

On Dec. 15, one of Sims' friends, 14-year-old Cheryl Green, was gunned down as she stood with friends on 206th Street, half a block from where the rally was held. Two 204th Street members are charged with murder and a hate crime in the death of Green, who was black.

Since then, black residents have held several marches in the neighborhood, saying they are being besieged by a gang with a policy of ridding the area of African Americans.

This upset Latino residents, who said they had suffered abuses at the hands of blacks.

They noted that Arturo Ponce, 34, was gunned down outside his apartment on 205th Street the night of Dec. 5. Ponce, a cook, was known as hard-working and with no gang affiliation.

Some people attending the rally said that they saw the shooting and that the gunman was black and yelled out an epithet against Mexicans. The witnesses conceded that the gunman was masked, hooded and hiding in the dark behind a hedge.

No arrests have been made in Ponce's killing. Some residents complained that his slaying did not attract the same attention as others.

"They killed a Latino, an African American shot him five times, and I didn't see no marches for that," said 18-year-old Juan Rueda, watching the rally.

So while many neighbors applauded the rally's intent, there were many reasons to be skeptical.

Ponce's sister-in-law, Beatriz Villa, went to the rally, but quickly returned home. "I'm afraid to walk on the street," she said.

Latinos do not seem to have a problem with Asians and whites, just balcks. Korea town is full of hispanics and there is the usual crime but nothing like this.Blacks just be gettin too ghetto with them Mexicans and Mexicans dont be takin that shit.As you see Mexicans, when bothered, dont move to other areas, they strike back.